Centrifugal Casting

Need help with a new project?

Let's push the limits of what is possible, together. Ask your metal experts.

What is Centrifugal Casting?

Centrifugal casting is the preferred metal casting process for applications demanding high strength and reliability, such as flight and land-based turbine engine compressor cases, petrochemical furnace tubes and reformer tubes, and naval defense components. Centrifugal casting produces defect-free parts with excellent material integrity.

In centrifugal casting molten metal is poured into a spinning die, which rotates on a vertical or horizontal axis depending on the part's design. Vertical centrifugal casting is commonly used for rings and cylinders, while horizontal centrifugal casting is ideal for tubes. Each can yield multiple parts from a single casting, increasing efficiency.

Intense centrifugal force pushes denser metal to the outer diameter (O.D.) and drives impurities and oxides toward the inner diameter (I.D.), where they can be removed by machining. Directional solidification under pressure ensures a uniform structure, preventing mid-wall shrinkage and eliminating defects such as gas pockets or cavities.

Our Centrifugal Casting Expertise

MetalTek produces ferrous and non-ferrous centrifugal castings at our Sandusky International and Wisconsin Centrifugal Divisions. Our industry-leading centrifugal casting capabilities cover a wide range of sizes and are supported by the world’s largest and most diverse inventory of centrifugal casting dies. For customers, this minimizes upfront tooling costs and reduces lead times.

Horizontal centrifugal castings: O.D. up to 60 in. (1525 mm), length up to 432 in. (10 973 mm), and weight up to 128,000 lbs. (58 060 kg)
Vertical centrifugal castings: O.D. up to 180” (4572 mm) and weight up to 34,000 lbs. (15 422 kg)

MetalTek can use vacuum casting to control oxygen exposure and enhance high-performance alloys like 718, 625, GTD222, and Rene77. This process ensures uniform soundness and tight tolerances, ideal for high-reliability components in aerospace and defense applications. We cast vacuum parts up to 18 in. x 42 in. (455 mm x 1070 mm) and 800 lbs. (364 kg).

Centrifugal Casting Video

Play Video

When to Use Centrifugal casting

Centrifugal casting is a good choice when your application requires:

Symmetrical shapes such as tubes, rings, and cylinders
Improved material properties over sand casting
Eliminating centerline shrinkage to improve structural integrity
Limited I.D. features
Large parts up to 128,000 lbs. (58 060 kg)
Uniform grain structure for enhanced strength and performance
High dimensional integrity for applications such as defense

Solutions

Tube Rolling Rings

Large diameter tube roller rings that hold their shape.

Alternative Fuel Assembly

Capability to fabricate heavy wall assemblies for alternative fuel roduction

Shaft Sleeves

Propulsion shafting for ocean-going Military and Commercial vessels is a critical and expensive part of the propulsion system.

Tooling Mandrel

Centrifugally cast tooling can provide 5 times longer tool life than traditional fabricated assemblies.

Briquetting Rolls

MetalTek is experienced in centrifugal casting CDA 815 chrome copper which is commonly used in food applications.

Continuous Annealing Roll

Large diameter rolls produced using the centrifugal and sand casting process.

Related Blogs

Sandusky International: Largest Centrifugal Castings for Demanding Industries Worldwide

May 8, 2024

MetalTek’s Sandusky International Division is a leading supplier of large metal components for high-heat, high-wear, and high-corrosion applications...